Review of Ninja Scroll: Box Set

Introduction

Non-stop, rollercoaster anime doesn`t get much better than Yoshiaki Kawajiri`s samurai action feature, `Ninja Scroll`. While the 1993 feature boasted a smooth blend of frenetic swordplay, imaginative characters, black humour and a smidge of classic Japanese folklore, it`s remembered most for its graphic scenes of sex and violence that were greeted by cheers from teenage boys everywhere, but with some heavy cuts from the censors here in the UK; this would later be rectified in the 2004 release of the 10th anniversary edition DVD.

With the tale of Jubei Kibagami`s adventure in feudal Japan being held in such a high regard by anime fans all over the world, `Ninja Scroll` would, unsurprisingly, be the recipient of a spin-off series featuring a returning Jubei, and a whole new cast of characters in 2003. Running for 13 episodes, and previously released in 3 separate volumes, now we have the release of this boxset featuring `Ninja Scroll: The Series` in its entirety.


When wandering samurai mercenary Jubei is awoken from his slumber by a confrontation between rival warriors, he`s unknowingly on the verge of a dangerous new adventure. With a promise to a dying man to get a sacred `Dragon Stone` to the legendary Light Maiden and protect her, Jubei makes his way to a small, remote village which is under attack from a giant demon. Finding a young girl who may possibly be the Light Maiden and getting her out of harms way, he gets caught between two deadly ninja clans, the ever dastardly Kimon and the Hiruko, each searching for the girl and the stone, as they believe they are the key to the vast riches of an ancient fallen civilisation. The noble Hiruko, descendants from the once great nation, want to rebuild their ancestory, while the scheming Kimon want to fund the overthrowing of the government and usher in a new dawn of fear and terror. It`s up to Jubei and his traveling party to lead the would-be Light Maiden and the Dragon Stone to safety. After all, a promise is a promise.

Episodes:

Volume 1: Dragon Stone

1. Tragedy in the Hidden Village
2. Departure
3. Forbidden Love
4. Broken Stone

Volume 2: Dangerous Path

5. The Diamond Child
6. Shelter from the Rain
7. Blossom
8. The Fate of Rengoku

Volume 3: Deliverance

9. A Dragon Within
10. The Heart of the Hiruko
11. Yagyu Renya
12. Dynasty Restoration
13. Farewell Jubei

Video

`Ninja Scroll: The Series` gets the broadcast ratio 4:3 treatment on this DVD set. With good colouring and much vibrancy, it`s certainly a fine looking transfer, with only minor artefacting appearing for those with a keen eye.

However, the character conceptualisation here is a real love it-or-hate it affair, with the designs by Takahiro Yoshimatsu (Trigun) taking on the clean, angular style of kiddie-orientated affair, with hallmarks of his animation work on the first `Dragonball Z` movie. The whole look of the show is a simplified, minimalist art design that verges on the under detailed - especially in the faces. It certainly won`t be to everyone`s tastes, and may come as a bit of a surprise to those coming fresh from the visceral detail of the `Ninja Scroll` movie. It`s hardly backbreaking, but it lacks the impact and oomph of the original Yutaka Minowa design.

Audio

As normal with most anime, you have the choice of the native Japanese or English tracks. While the English track is treated to a booming Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, the Japanese only has the option of 2.0 stereo. Now, both are strong, full-sounding tracks, but naturally the edge in atmosphere and effects goes to the English, although the translated script is probably weaker overall. The Japanese is a perfectly fine audio track, with good separation, and is more than adequate for those who prefer to watch their anime in the original language.

The English subtitles are yellow, clear fonted, and never seem to have a problem keeping up with the action.

Features

Exactly the same as on the three separate volumes, `Ninja Scroll: The Series` is treated to a slew of only mildly diverting bonus material and a sturdy sleeve box with some pretty pictures on it.

On disc one there is an interview with the soundtrack composer, a storyboard-to-feature comparison, a bit on creating the cover art, a run-of-the-mill art gallery and a trailer. On disc two, the extras are almost identical, bar an interview with the director and character designer. For disc three, it`s the same old story, only this time with an added behind the scenes featurette and probably the most pointless bonus content ever conceived - the familiar textless opening and closing.

Conclusion

The original `Ninja Scroll` was one in the eye for overly-serious, po-faced anime which often tries too hard to wrap an important message in a tangled story. It proved that although anime is often fertile ground for a thinking man`s story, you can have just as much fun with a feature heavily reliant on flash-bang-wallop fare. However, unlike the movie from which it spun, the series doesn`t have a solid narrative to carry the thrills, and is forced to fall back on so-so action too often when its rather mundane plot fails to go anywhere interesting, despite a rousing start. Yeah, there`s a large helping of over the top gratuitous violence with limbs flying all over the shop. Yeah, there is plenty of ogling to be had over scantily clad, buxom vixens. There`s even a surprising amount of salty talk and the return of the overt, but questionable, sexualised scenes that got the original movie in some hot water in the first place. But this is an episodic series, not a 90 minute feature, and all the flashy eye candy in the world can`t make up for an underdeveloped narrative and characterless characters - marking out `Ninja Scroll: The Series` as a disappointment.

Volume one actually kicks off with style, introducing us to a new selection of feudal Japan-era X-Men wannabes - demon warriors with bizarre powers who are capable of the strangest feats. Although a giant mecha-man on wheels who commands little robot dolls is, frankly, cool to watch, it`s hardly fitting with the period - yet the inventiveness of how the technology of today sits comfortably with the setting is always great fun to behold, so logical rationale goes out the window. Jubei gets up to his old tricks from the off, slicing and dicing clan demons with gusto in the name of protecting a young, innocent woman. This sets up their adventure, and as more characters join the quest (including the `old fart` Dakuan from the movie), you start to get the feeling that these four action packed episodes are setting up an epic journey and an over-arcing plot - and it`s all going to kick off with the second volume.

But volume two fails to go anywhere, with four middling, character-centric episodes that fail to capitalise on the explosive beginnings of the show, and simply lack any puff. It does give rise to an opportunity to flesh out some of the protagonists, perhaps add a little backstory, but the moment is all but wasted, as side-quests and looking for new reasons to implement some claret-covered swordplay take precedence. Interest starts to peak again with volume three, as the tale builds to a climax with the final episodes and the narrative kicks up a gear as the arc comes to a close. But with promising so much in the first volume, it feels like a fall short - too little, too late.

`Ninja Scroll`: The Series does show some flair over the course of the thirteen parts. It never runs out of ideas for new and varied enemies, the action does have the odd glimmer of the ingenuity that was present in the film, and there`s a streak of knowing humour, as it never takes itself too seriously. But the plot just isn`t handled interestingly enough, and the main characters, whether all new or returning, are either bland, insipid or down right annoying. Kudos to the creators for not taking the wandering samurai bit to its easiest conclusion - there`s no town-to-town drifting, fighting evil in the vein of a certain Kwai Chang Caine or a Dr David Banner, but there`s not much else to take its place, as the quest to protect the `Demon Stone` is a McGuffin if there ever was one. It`s all just an excuse to watch Jubei kick butt.

There`s violence, there`s humour, and it`s an easy watch, even if the art style isn`t your preferred choice. But as a whole series, it`s just not nearly up to par with original, much loved, movie.